Peters



V(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

0. SGHIESS.

VBNDING APIEARAJUSv No. 381,428. PmemedApr.l 17, 1888.`

uw jig! WITNESSES: Y INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. 0. SGHIESS.

VBNDING APPARATUS.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 1'7, 1888.

N, PETERS, Priowuumgmphw, wasnmgmn. n. f;

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

0. SOHIESS.

VENDING APPARATUS. No. 381,428. Patented Apr. 17, 1888.

, IMLI.. I I

WITNESSES: 6M. wwz i" l ATTORNEY (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4. 0. SCHIESS. 1 VENDING APPARATUS.

Patented Apr. 17, 188,8.

WW fa NvENmH e my BY Y WITNEssEs; @am @M/ www @75mm A ATENT einen.

OTTO SOHIESS, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

VENDING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 381,428, dated April 17, 1888.

` Application filed Dcccmber 24. 1887. ger-inl No. 258,917. (No nicdel.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that l, OTTO Serrrnss, a citizen of Switzerland, and a resident of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im'- provementsinVending-Machines,of which the following is such a full, clear, concise, and eX- act description as will enable others skilledin the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specticatiou.

The object of my invention is the construction of a vending-machine which can be operated to deliver the article preferred ofthe different varieties or kinds contained by it whenever the proper coin is deposited therein; and the invention consists in the devices and combinations ot' devices hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown a machine embodying the invention and adapted to the sale oi' two kinds of cigars of a single price, and the purchaser may here be supposed to be allowed the choice of a light or dark colored cigar.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a front view, of the exterior of such a machine, showing the arrangement ofthe cigar-holding case provided with windows through which the cigars may be seen, delivery-receptacles with handles for opening the same, a slot for receiving the coin, a small circular window back of which the coin is held in view after it has acted on the locking mechanism, and a drawer at the base, into which the Acoin is finally received. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the machine with the front plate of the outer casing removed, taken on the line x x of Fig. 5, and showingin section both of the deliveryreceptacles, one of which is pulled forward or opened and the other closed. As here seen, the cigar-holding case is divided into two compartments for keeping the two varieties of cigars separate, and one of the inclined hinged plates E at the base of one ot' the compartments is removed and a portion of the covering-plate J is broken off, exposing to view the shifting mechanism upon one side. Fig. 4

is a plan View of the same, looking from above, but not showing the delivery-boxes or any of Fig. 5 is a cross-secthe locking mechanism.

tion taken on the liney y of Figs. 3 and 4, giv ing an end view of one of the delivery-receptacles, and showingin side elevation thelockn ing and shifting mechanism. The deliveryreceptacle here shown is pulled forward or open, the dotted lines indicating the position ot' the various connections when the same is closed. Fig. G is a plan view of the locking devices and deliveryboxes, and Figs. 7 and 8 are sections on the lines e e and w y1v of Fig. 6, these views being given to show the locking devices entirely independent of the shifting mechanism. Fig. 9 is an end view of one of the delivery-receptacles detached. Fig. 10 is aplan view of a portion ofsueh receptacle; and Fig. 11 is ascction ofthe same, taken on theline e e of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the shifting mechanism for one side, and Figs. 13 and 14 are front and side elevations taken on the lines u u and tt of Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a View of the lower portion of chute detached. Figs. 16, 17, and 18 aredifferent views of the weighted locking-lever detached. Figs. 19 and 2O are front and side elevations of the intermediary rollers, and Fig. 21 is a plan view thereof.

The cigar-holding case A is preferably provided with a hinged lid, A', and divided into two compartments of about the length of a cigar by the block D and plates d andd, (best shown in Fig. 3,) and at the bottom of each compartment is a plate, E, inclined, so that the tendency of the cigars restingthereon may be to roll forward into the adjacent deliveryreceptacle, the said plates being preferably hinged, so that they may be lifted and jolted by the shaking devices beneath, thus loosening the cigars in case they should become blocked or entangled. The shaking mechanism, which is the same on both sides, is best shown in Figs. 12, 13, and 14, and consists of the stirrup-shaped shaft F, journaled in bearings in tlie brackets h and h, secured to the supporting-plate H and provided with an upwardly-extending tongue or plate, f. At one end of the shaft F is secured a lever-arm, I, which arm extends down through an opening in the plate H and is provided at its lower extremity with a slot or fork, i, adapted to receive the pin i', projecting from the end of one of the delivery receptacles B. To a bracket, h, there is also preferably secured a lever, G, the front end of which extends into a loop,f, depending from the tongue-f of the shaft F, while its rear end is provided with an upward extension and cross-bar, g.

Covering the shaking apparatus is an angleplate, J, but with openings admitting the passage of the parts f and g, according to the movements of the shaft F and lever G. As the front end of the lever G rests loosely in loopf', it has sufcient play not to impede'the movement of the tongue f, but moves back and forth in the loop, as well as up and down, as the said part is raised and lowered, giving its upward extension and crossgbar g the directly-opposite movement to that ofthe tongue f; and as the lever arm I is moved back and forth by the opening and closing of the delivery-box, with which it is connected, the parts f and g are successively brought into contact with the hinged plate E, jarring and shaking the cigars and preventing any block in their movements. Beneath the plate H, which supports the shaking devices, are the deliveryreceptacles BandB and the automatic locking and fastening mechanism. Each of the delivery-receptacles is provided with a handle, b, and hinged so as to swing out and in, and is formed with a groove or trough, b', large enough to hold a single cigar.

Between the delivery-receptacles is a suitably-supported bar, K, which is here shown as mounted upon a tongue or shaft,'K, pivoted in the bracket lo by a pin, k2, to allow of slight lateral movement. The bar K is preferably provided with rollers 7c 7c, arranged to project partially into the grooves b3 b3 in the adjacent ends of the receptacles, the extreme peripheries of the rollers extending farther than the normal surfaces of the ends, so that while one of the receptacles may be pulled forward, bringing the even surface of its-end against the adjacent roller and pressing the opposite roller farther intoits groove in the opposite receptacle, the rollers will not allow K both receptacles to be drawn out simultaneously. `The rollers lc k may, however, be dispensed with, if desired, and thebar K made to extend into the grooves b3 b3; but the rollers reduce the friction and aftorda much smoother operation of theparts.

The chute for directing the passage of the coin (clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5) is preferably formed in two parts, the upper part, c, extending from the slot C down through an opening in the plate H, being rigidly secured to the front wall of the case, while the lower portion, c', which forms a continuation of the upper portion, c, is loosely hinged between the 'lugs e202, projecting from the lower side of the plate H. When the delivery-receptacles are closed, the lower portion, c', of the chute hangs between the prongs Z Z upon the balanced lever L in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5, the sides of the chute near the pins being removed or cut away to allow the coin to strike against the prongs on its passage downward. The weighted lever L receptacles and beneath the rollers k 7c. Onel end of the lever L is preferably threaded, so

that the weightZ may be adjusted out or in and the lever `adapted to be tilted by lighter or heavier coins. At the other end of the lever L, between the prongs Z Z, are preferably formed grooves, within which are secured swinging segments or pieces n, mounted. When the lever is in normal position and the delivery-receptacles closed, lthe inner sides of the segments n, extend up to and opposite the lugs o, projecting from the ends of the receptacles, thus preventing the latter from being pulled forward and opened; but the segments w. are so hinged that while stopping the forward motion of the' delivery-receptacles, yet each is adapted to turn independently of the other when the lugs o upon the adjacent receptacle are brought against its outer rounded side in closing the same, thus allowingreither receptacle to be closed singly without tilting the lever so far down as to unlock the other.

The lever L may of course terminate in a fixed ratchet tooth or teeth with outer rounded edges, which, while allowing the lugs o tilting the lever to be moved in, will prevent the reverse movement; but the swinging segments or teeth, as shown, are preferable, as avoiding any danger of unlocking one case while closing the other.

Upon theinner end of each of the deliveryreceptacles is also a pin, p, (best shownl in Figs. 9, 10, and 11,) which pin strikes against the lower hinged portion of the chute, pressing the coin od the prongs Z Z and against the front of the box, as shown in Fig. 3. Y

A coin of suitable denomination being inserted in the slot C drops down through the upper portion of the chute, c, and lower portion, c', until it comes in contact withl the prongs Z Z, and, tilting down the lever L, frees bothdelivery-receptacles. Therollerskkprevent, as before stated, both receptacles from being pulled forward y simultaneously; but either may be opened, in which event as the one opened is pulled forward -the pin p, upon its end striking against the swinging portion of the chute, throws the same forward, pressing the coinoff the prongs Z Z and against the front ofthe box and allowing the lever L to swing up into its normal position, relocking the other case. Upon pushing back the open delivery-receptacle the pressurefrom the pin p is removed, the lower portion, c', of the chute allowed to swing back, and the coin dropped into the box C; also, the lug o, pressing against the rounded surface of one of the segments n, partially turns the same, which, `when the lug has passed over it, rights itself', and the case is again locked. Moreover, in opening land closing either receptacle the shaking mechan- IOO IIO

anism above the same is operated), as hereinscribed may be easily adj usted and the delivery-receptacles adapted for the sale of different articles, and when there is little danger of the articles becoming blocked or .entangled the shaking mechanism may be dispensed with.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a vending-machine provided with a chute, two delivery-receptacles having projecting lugs upon their adjacent ends, in combination with a lever provided with a ratchet tooth or teeth disposed to engage said lugs and impede the outward movement of said recep` tacles, while allowing the reverse movement to the same, said lever being balanced to be tipped by a coin deposited in said chute, and thereby to release said lugs and free either of said receptacles, substantially as described.

2. In a vending-machine provided with a chute, two delivery-receptacles having projecting lugs upon their adjacent ends, in conibination with a lever balanced to be tipped by a coin deposited in said chute, said lever being provided with loosely-mounted segments or teeth disposed to impede the outward movement ofsaid lugs, either segment being adapted to turnindependently,allowing the lug upon the adjacent receptacle to be moved inward and the same closed without tilting the lever so far down as to free the other receptacle, substantially as described.

3. In a vending-machine provided with a chute, two delivery-receptacles having projecting lugs upon their adjacent ends, in combination with a lever balanced to be tipped by a coin deposited in said chute. said lever being provided with a weight adjustable for lighter and heavier coins and with looselymounted segments or teeth disposed to impede the outward movement of said lugs,either segment being adapted to turn independently, allowing the lug upon the adjacent receptacle to be moved inward and the same closed without tilting the lever so far down as to free the other receptacle, substantially as described.

4..In a vending-machine, tivo delivery-receptacles provided with grooves upon their adjacent ends, in combination with a bar disposed so as to extend partially into said grooves, a pivoted tongue 'or shaft supporting said bar, the said bar being adapted to be pressed out of the groove in one receptacle by a movement of such receptacle, and by the same movement to be driven farther into the groove of the other receptacle, locking the latter, whereby either receptacle is allowed to be drawn forth singly, but both receptacles prevented from being opened simultaneously, substantially as described.

5. In a vending-machine, two delivery-receptacles having grooves upon their adjacent ends, in combination with a bar suitably supported between said receptacles and provided with rollers disposed so as to extend into said grooves, either roller being adapted to be pressed out of the groove of the receptacle into which it extends by a movement of such receptacle, and by the same movement the other roller to be driven farther into the groove of the other receptacle, locking the latter, whereby either receptacle is free to be drawn forth singly, but both receptacles prevented from being opened simultaneously, substantially as described.

6. In a vending-machine provided with a chute,two delivery-receptacles having grooves upon their adjacent ends, in combination with a lever having connections with both of said receptacles, said connections being adapted to lock the same, the said lever being balanced to be tipped by a coin deposited in said chute, and thereby to release said receptacles, and a bar suitably supported between said receptacles and disposed to extend partially into said grooves, said bar being adapted to be pressed out of the groove in one receptacle by a movement of such reeeptacle,and by the same movement to be driven farther into the groove of the other receptacle, locking it, whereby upon the tilting of said lever either receptacle is free to be drawn forth singly, but both prevented from being opened simultaneously, substantially as described.

7. In a vending-machine provided with a chute, two delivery-receptacleshaving grooves upon their adjacentends, in combination with a lever having connections with both of said receptacles, said connections being adapted to lock the same, the said lever being balanced to betipped bya coin deposited in said chute, and thereby to release said receptacles, and a bar suitably supported between said receptacles and provided with rollers disposed to extend into said grooves, either roller being adapt-ed to be pressed out of the groove of the receptacle in which it extends by a movement of such receptacle, and by the same movement the other roller to be driven farther into the groove of the other receptacle` locking it, whereby upon the tilting of said lever either receptacle is free to be drawn forth singly, but both prevented from being opened simultaneously, substantially as described.

8. In a vending-machine provided with a chute, two delivery-receptacl es having grooves and lugs upon their adjacent ends, in combination with a bar suitably supported between said receptacles and disposed to extend partially into said grooves, said bar being adapted to be pressed out of the groove in one receptacle by a movement ofsuch receptacle, and by the same movement to be pressed farther into the groove in the other receptacle, locking the latter, and a lever provided with a ratchet tooth or teeth arranged so as to impede the outward movement-of said lugs, while allowing the reverse movement to the same, said lever being balanced to be tipped by a coin deposited in said chute, and thereby to release said lugs, substantially as described.-

9. In a vending-machine provided with a chute, two delivery-receptacles havinggrooves and lugs upon their adjacent ends, in combination with a bar suitably supported between said receptacles and provided with rollers disposed to extend partially into said grooves, either roller being adaptedto be pressed out of the groove of the receptacle in which it extends by a movement of such receptacle, and by the same movement the other roller to be driven farther into the groove of the other receptacle, locking it, and a lever adapted to be tipped by a coin deposited in said chute, said lever bei-ng provided with loosely-mounted segments or teeth arranged to impede the outward movement of said lugs, either segment 'being adapted to turn independently, allowing the lug upon the adjacent receptacle to be moved inwardly and the same closed without tilting the lever so far down as to free the other receptacle, whereby upon the deposit of the proper coin in said chute either of said receptacles is freed, so that it may be drawn forth singly, but both receptacles prevented from being opened simultaneously, and upon the closing of either receptacle the same is moved back without .unlocking the other receptacle, substantially as described.

10. In a vending-machine, a delivery-receptacle, in combination with a hinged plate arranged adjacent to said receptacle and adapted to support the articles to be sold, a shaft placed beneath said plate and provided with a tongue adapted to be brought in contact therewith, and a crank-arm secured to said shaft, said arm having also connection with said receptacle, whereby upon the moving of the latter said shaft is turned, said tongue is brought in contact with said plate, the same being thereby shaken or tipped, and the articles to be sold impelled forward into said receptacle, substantially as described.

v11. In a vending-machine provided with a chute, two delivery-receptacles having projecting lugs upon their adjacent ends, in combination with a lever adapted to be tipped by a coin deposited in said chute, said lever being provided lwith loosely-mounted segments or teeth disposed to impede the outward movement of said lugs,either segment being adapted to turn independently, allowing the lug upon the adjacent receptacle to be moved inward and the same closed without tilting the lever so far down as to free the other receptacle, and separate shaking mechanisms placed adjacent to said receptacles and having connections therewith, each shaking mechanism being adapted to be operated by a movement of the adjacent receptacle, substantially as described.

12. In a vending-machine provided with a chute having a lower hinged or swinging portion, two delivery-receptacles, in combination witha lever provided with prongs and having connections with both of said receptacles, said connections being adapted to Alock the same, the said prongs being disposed to extend about the swinging portion of said chute and support a coin deposited therein, the said lever being adapted to be tilted by such coin, and

thereby to unlock said receptacles,and connections between said receptacles and the swinging portion of said chute, whereby upon the opening of either receptacle the swingingl portion of said chute is moved forward, shoving the coin from said prongs and releasing said lever, substantially as described.

13. In a vending-machine provided with a chute having' a lower 'hinged or swinging portion, two delivery receptaclesv having lugs upon their adjacent ends, in combination with a lever provided withiprongs projecting about the lower portion of said chute and with segments or teeth disposed to impede the outward movement of said lugs, either segment being adapted to turn independently, allowing the lug upon the adjacent receptacle to be moved inward without tilting the lever so far down as to free the lug upon the other receptacle, the said lever being balanced to be tipped by a coin deposited in said chute, and thereby-to free both of said lugs, the said prongs being adapted to support such coin, aud connections between theV hinged or swinging portion of said chute and said receptacles, whereby upon the opening of either receptacle the swinging portion of said chute is moved forward, shoving the coin from said prongs and kreleasing saidlever, and upon the closing of such receptacle the same is moved back without unlocking the other receptacle, substantially as described. l

14. In a vending-machine provided with a chute having a lower hinged or Swinging portion, two delivery-receptacles, in combination with shaking mechanisms placed adjacent. lto said receptacles and adapted to im pel forward into said receptacles the articles to be sold, a lever provided with prongs and having connections with both of said receptacles, said connections being adapted to lock the same, the said lever being adapted to loe tilted by a coin deposited in said chute, and thereby to unlock said receptacles, the said prongs being disposed to extend about the hinged portion of said chute and support a coin deposited therein, and connections between said lreceptaclesand said shaking mechanism and between said receptacles and thehinged portion of said chute,whereby upon the opening of either receptacle the shaking mechanism connected therewith is operated and the swinging portion of said chute is moved forward, shoving the coin from said prongs and releasing said lever, substantially as described.

15. In a vending-machine provided'with a chute having a lower hinged or swinging portion, two delivery-receptacles having lugs and grooves upon their adjacent ends, in combination with a bar suitably supported between said receptacles and provided with rollers'disposed to extend partially into said grooves, either roller being adaptedto be pressed out of the groove of the receptacle in which it eX- tends by a movement of such receptacle, and by the same` movement the other roller to be driven farther into the groove of the other receptacle, locking thelatter, a lever provided with prongs projecting about the lower portion of said chute and with segments or teeth disposed to impede the outward movement of said lugs, either segment being adapted to turn independently, allowing the lug upon the adjacent receptacle to be moved inward without tilting the lever so far down as to free the lug upon the other receptacle, the said lever` being balanced to be tipped by a coin deposited in said chute, and thereby to free both of said lugs, the said prongs being adapted to support such coin, and connections between the hinged or swinging portion of said chute and said receptacles,whereby upon the deposit of the proper receptacle the swinging or hinged portion of zo said chute is swung forward, shoving the coin from said prongs, and upon the closing of such receptacle the` same is moved back without unlocking the other receptacle, substantially as described.

OTTO SCHIESS.

i Witnesses:

R. G. MONROE, WM. B. BooKsTARER. 

